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I'm going to try to write this without flinging world like Nazi around here. I believe we need to step back from that level of rhetoric. Save the Nazism allegations for genocide.

That being said...

The new Arizona immigration law which allows for anyone who is suspected of being an illegal alien to be asked for their papers at any time is clearly egregious. We all know that as citizens in this free country we shouldn't have to carry proof of citizenship at all times. And we all know that I won't be asked for my papers--I'm not a Latina, after all, and that's what this is really about. It wouldn't matter if I was an illegal immigrant, I still wouldn't be asked for my papers. But it won't matter if your family has been in this country for ten generations if you are Latino, you can be asked to show proof of citizenship.

We need to stand on the side of love on this one.

And that's going to mean more than writing a letter of protest, or wearing a …

The UU World reports that the latest UUA numbers show that our movement is in decline. They say:A year ago UUA membership declined by 132 members for a total of 156,015 adult members. This year membership dropped 267, a decline of .16 percent. Total adult membership this year is 155,748. And also: Religious education enrollment dropped 1,262, for a total of 55,846 children and youth this year. A year ago it dropped 809. In 2002 it was 60,895.Now people are quick to point out that we're in a recession. And that churches report their numbers to the association, and then, for all small and mid-sized congregations, the UUA bases their fair-share dues on the number of members they have. Our UUA and district dues last year were $76 per person. So therefore, in a time when our congregations are having financial troubles, congregations will naturally want to trim every member off their rolls that they possibly can.

This is true. But I think that we always want to trim our membership …

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum is a Unitarian Universalist minister, artist, writer, parent, and justice advocate. The opinions expressed here are solely her own, and do not represent the views of the church or any other organization she serves.